Venice: Roy Andersson’s ‘A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence’ Wins Golden Lion

Swedish director Roy Andersson takes home the top Golden Lion prize for A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence. The film, which is the third in its trilogy, was hailed by critics for its intricate shots and quiet reflections on what it means to be a human being. The director accepted the award, saying movies should be “humanistic” and that he will keep trying to make great movies.

The Silver Lion for best director goes to Andrej Koncalovskij for The Postman’s White Nights, his documentary-style narrative set in a small Russian lake town, which was widely praised for its beautiful cinematography and strong storytelling. 

Joshua Oppenheimer, accepted the grand jury prize for The Look of Silence, from a video message in Chicago where he was stuck in the airport due to heavy storms. He was grateful to the festival for recognizing the film as a message of reconciliation. 

Girls actor Adam Driver, who was not present at the ceremony, took home the prize for best actor, in his role as a new father who must protect his baby from its overprotective mother, played by Alba Rohrwacher who also took home the best actress prize. 

President of the jury, French composer Alexandre Desplat, announced the awards Saturday night at the closing ceremony in the Sala Grande. The competition lineup for the 71st edition of the festival tackled a variety of social and political issues: drone warfare in Good Kill, the Armenian genocide in The Cut, the U.S. housing crisis in 99 Homes and raw mafia life in Black Souls. Alejandro G. Inarritu‘s Birdman, starring Michael Keaton in a comeback role, was a favorite among festival goers, but failed to take home any main competition prizes. 

The full list of awards is as follows:

VENEZIA 71

Golden Lion for Best Film: A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence by Roy Andersson

Silver Lion for Best Director: Andrej Koncalovskij for The Postman’s White Nights

Grand Jury Prize: The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer

Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: Adam Driver for Hungry Hearts

Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Alba Rohrwacher for Hungry Hearts

“Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress: Romain Paul in Le Dernier Coup de Marteau

Award for Best Screenplay: Tales by Rakhshan Banietemad and Farid Mostafavi

Special Jury Prize: Sivas by Kaan Mujdeci

ORIZZONTI

Orizzonti Award for Best Film: Court by Chaitanya Tamhane 

Orizzonti Award for Best Director: Theeb by Naji Abu Nowar

Special Orizzonti Jury Prize: Belluscone. Una Storia Siciliana by Franco Maresco 

Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film: Maryam by Sidi Saleh

Orizzonti Award for Best Actor or Actress: Emir Hadzihafizbegovic in These Are the Rules

Venice Short Film Nomination for the European Film Awards 2014: Daily Bread by Idan Hubel

DEBUT FILM

“Luigi de Laurentiss” Venice Award for a Debut Film: Court by Chaitanya Tamhane 

VENICE CLASSICS

Best Restored Film: Una Giornata Particolare by Ettore Scola

Best Documentary Award: Animata Resistenza by Francesco Montagner and Alberto Girotto

VENICE DAYS

Venice Days Award: Return to Ithaca by Laurent Cantet

COLLATERAL AWARDS

FIPRESCI Best Film of Venezia 71: The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer

FIPRESCI Best Film of Orizzonti and International Critics’ Week: Nicije dete by Vuk Rsumovic

SIGNIS Award: Far From Men by David Oelhoffen

SIGNIS Special Mention: 99 Homes by Ramin Bahrani

Leoncino d’Oro Agiscuola per il Cinema: Birdman by Alejandro G Inarritu

Cinema for UNICEF mention: Hungry Hearts by Saverio Costanzo

Francesco Pasinetti Awards

Best film: Anime Nere by Francesco Munzi

Best actors: Elio Germano (Il giovane favoloso) and Alba Rohrwacher (Hungry Hearts)

Special Award: Saverio Costanzo, director of Hungry Hearts

Special Award: Pierfrancesco Favino, actor and producer of Senza nessuna pieta

Special Award: I nostri ragazzi by Ivano De Matteo

Brian Award: The Farewell Party by Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon

Queer Lion Award: Les Nuits d’été by Mario Fanfani

Arca CinemaGiovani Award

Best Film of Venezia 71: Loin Des Hommes by David Oelhoffen

Best Italian film: Belluscone. Una storia siciliana by Franco Maresco

CICAE – Cinema d’Arte e d’Essai Award: Heaven Knows What by Josh and Ben Safdie

FEDIC Award: Io sto con la sposa by Antonio Augugliaro, Gabriele Del Grande, Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry

FEDIC Special Mention: Italy in a day by Gabriele Salvatores

Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award: Luigi Musini for Anime nere 

Future Film Festival Digital Award: Birdman by Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Future Film Festival Digital Award Special Mention: Italy in a day by Gabriele Salvatores

P. Nazareno Taddei Award: Birdman by Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Lanterna Magica (CGS) Award: Le dernier coup de marteau by Alix Delaporte

Open Award: director Ra di Martino

Mouse d’oro for the best film of Venezia 71: The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer

Mouse d’argento for the best out of competition film: Olive Kitteridge by Lisa Cholodenko

The Most Innovative Budget: Italy in a day by Gabriele Salvatores

Gillo Pontecorvo Award – Arcobaleno Latino: The show mas go on by Ra di Martino

Interfilm Award for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue: Far From Men by David Oelhoffen

Young Jury Members of the Vittorio Veneto Film Festival Best film: 99 Homes by Ramin Bahrani

Young Jury Members Special Mention: the work of Fatih Akin (The Cut)

Young Jury Members Best actor: Elio Germano (Il giovane favoloso)

“Civitas Vitae prossima” Award: Ivan Gergolet for Dancing with Maria

Green Drop Award: The Postman’s White Nights by Andrej Kon?alovskij

Soundtrack Stars Award Critic’s Choice Award: Alexandre Desplat

Soundtrack Stars Award Best Soundtrack Award: Birdman by Alejandro G. Inarritu

Schermi di Qualità – Carlo Mazzacurati Award: Anime nere by Francesco Munzi

RaroVideo – International Critics’ Week Award: Ni?ije dete by Vuk Rsumovic 

Europa Cinemas Label Award

Best European Movie from Venice Days: I nostri ragazzi by Ivano de Matteo

Fedeora Awards

Venice Days Best Film: One on One by Kim Ki-duk

Best director of a debut film: to Aditya Vikram Sengupta for Labour of Love

Settimana Internazionale della Critica – Venice International Film Critics Week

Best screenwriter: Vuk Rsumovic for No One’s Child         

Best film: Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere by Nguyen Hoang Diep

Venezia 71 Best Euro-Mediterranean film: The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer

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